After a brief break from the music industry, Solange Knowles has popped back onto the scene with a new album that manages to thrust her out of her talented sister, Beyonce’s, shadow.
“Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams” marks the second album of the youngest Knowles, in the first track the singer gets down to business with lyrics that proclaim her individuality, “I’m not her and never will be, two girls going in different directions, traveling towards the same galaxy. Let my starlight shine on its own, no I’m no sister, I just my God given name.”
Solange’s cynical humor and rebellious personality proves that she is definitely not her wholesome sister. The songstress’ album debuted last Tuesday and the singer succeeds in escaping from the mainstream R&B tunes while trying out a new sound.
The groovy upbeat tracks can make old men at barber shops tap their feet while having women at receptionist desks grooving while typing.
The sound favors that of a 60’s girl group with a futuristic twist. Solange’s soft vocals along with her playful horns, tambourines and occasional synthesizers, help separate the album from competitors. The background vocals, sung by Solange as well, add the effect of more than one singer.
However, the singer’s vocal range may not have been executed to its fullest potential. Solange often uses a high pitch, borderline falsetto voice making it harder to understand the songs lyrics, which at times can be a bummer. But on a positive note, she did write the majority of the tracks. Her lyrics tell all with no holding back, and this definitely helps her listeners to relate.
Along with other catchy songs, the album has given women a new anthem to shout around the house. “T.O.N.Y.”, which stands for: the other night oh “y,” denotes a regretful one night stand with a guy who “wasn’t just a regular guy.”
Cee-lo, the Neptunes and Freemasons are a few of the producers on the album. She doesn’t play around with her vocals as much as one may desire, but that certainly should not stop listeners from tuning in. The album is proof that Solange does not need a household name to intrigue her audience and she can keep several of her tracks on repeat in CD players all on her own.